"spooky" classics

Every October, I seem to find myself drawn to Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. This week, at the library, I also found myself grabbing a copy of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe. Do you have any "spooky" classics that call to you in October?

Funny you should mention it. I'm planning a spooky theme read for October and I've pulled all the appropriate books out of Mnt TBR. I have three other books I need to read, but after those I'm going to try Legend of Sleepy Hollow (my book is a collection), Dracula, Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell and Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury (which I think the blurb on the cover even refers to as a classic) (right).

Frankenstein is my very favorite horror novel ever!

I also love Dracula, The Turn of the Screw, and Poe.

At the Mountains of Madness would be my pick for Halloween re-read. But this Halloween I plan on pulling The Haunted Looking-Glass out of my TBR pile to read for the first time. Not one, but 12 classic spooky stories. How could you go wrong with that? :D

Don't forget Young Goodman Brown!

These all sound great. I haven't read most of them, so more for my 'to read' list.

The Last Man by Mary Shelley is a great gothic/post-apocalyptic type read.

Dracula is my all time favourite horror book. I’ve re-read it several times and am thinking of doing so once again this year.

Earlier this year I read For The Blood Is The Life And Other Stories by F. Marion Crawford. It is a collection of horror short stories. This is a new read for me but I’m already thinking of re-visiting at least two of the short stories from that book, The Upper Berth and The Screaming Skull. Both are very creepy and so suitable for the month of October.

I’ve read a few of Poe’s horror stories like The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado and A Tale of the Ragged Mountains. The Black Cat and A Tale of the Ragged Mountains, I found deeply disturbing. But The Cask of Amontillado is utterly macabre and so deliciously chilling! I’m willing to re-read that anytime.

There's also the French (not very well-known in the US) Charles Nodier with Infernaliana, and maybe Gaston Leroux, as well, with his Phantom of the Opera.

Good thread!!!! I feel in the mood of some spooky stuff too :)

My nr. one is also Dracula....

Not exactly ghosts, but close: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by R. L. Stevenson. One of my favorites.

I have just read The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells - I found it quite spooky at times - The invisible Man is almost like a ghost.

And why not have some fun and romance mixed in: Northanger Abbey. Jane Austen poking fun at the gothic. Very light spooky.

I love everything Jane Austen and agree with you wholeheartedly about Northanger Abbey

Many of my favorites have been named- I adore The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and try to re-read it once a year. I read Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde and Dracula last October and I'm sure I'll re-read them again. Also Young Goodman Brown is my favorite writing from Hawthorne.
The Devil and Daniel Webster is my favorite short story and it has that creepy New England in Autumn atmosphere.

>12 mstrust: It has been years since I've read The Devil and Daniel Webster. Thanks for reminding me.

>8 Porua: "The Cask of Amontillado" is wonderful. I also love the way the mood is set in "The Masque of the Red Death" , another one of my favorites of Poe.

>9 Cecilturtle: Thanks for the mention of The Phantom of the Opera. My son loves the musical adaptation. I think the book would be something we could both enjoy.

I came across another spooky tale by Washington Irving called "The Spectre Bridegroom". Enjoyed reading it.